The Times and The Sunday Times and carefully selected third parties use cookies on this site to improve performance, for analytics and for advertising. By browsing this site you are agreeing to this. For more information see our Privacy and Cookie policy.

Accessibility Links

Sean Paul

PopBrixton Academy

By Lisa Verrico

October 29 2003, 12:00am, The Times

SEAN PAUL began 2003 as the latest in a long line of young dancehall artists to have tasted Western success — he’d had a British Top 40 hit with his single Gimme the Light, and his second album, Dutty Rock, won a Mobo Award. But despite a devoted fanbase and an accessible musical style that mixed reggae with hip-hop, Paul looked unlikely to break beyond the bottom end of the charts.

In the past six months, however, the Jamaica-born, New York-based 28-year-old has shot on to pop’s A-list, thanks to help from some famous friends. Following guest spots on songs by Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes, Paul hit the big time in the summer with Breathe, his No 1 duet with Blu Cantrell, while his latest…